Pupils’ giant flag above Harrogate art gallery

Western Primary School's finished flag designed by Maddie Fleet in Y5. The runner-up designs were by Emma Marlow, Sophie Ball, Kate McCartney, Lucy Thomspon,Thomas McDonagh and Daniel Duffy, who are all pictured along side Scarlett Stewart from Harrogate's 108 Fine Art gallery and parent Sara Swift who helped organise the project.

Published:09:09Updated:12:11Friday 28 November 2014

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By Graham Chalmers

If you look upwards around halfway down Cold Bath Road in Harrogate this weekend you might spot something diferent - a giant flag.

It’s the work of young pupils at Western Primary School who have, once again, teamed up with one of the town’s leading art galleries on a festive arts project.

Children from Years 5 & 6 (aged nine-11) were invited to design a gigantic festive flag to flutter above the entrance at the gallery, the school’s close neighbour 108 Fine Art on Coldbath Road.

This wonderful design challenge was devised by Andrew Stewart, owner of 108 Art Gallery and Western mum Sara Swift to build on the success of last year’s exciting arts link-up, when school pupils had the rare opportunity to exhibit their own work in the prestigious gallery.

Andrew Stewart said: “I am delighted with the designs and it’s great to see the work of Western schoolchildren in the gallery again. The flag will be on display until mid January, during an exhibition of the fabulous landscapes of the Borders, by Anna King.”

For the flag project, the children produced a plethora of amazing seasonal pictures on the theme of ‘What I imagine when I think of Christmas’.

Maddie Fleet’s jolly snowman was chosen as the winning design, which will be made into 6ft x 4ft flag by Knaresborough-based Flying Colours, one of the UK’s most successful flag and banner makers.

The children’s flag will proudly fly from this weekend, tying in neatly to one of Andrew’s favourite quotes by Picasso: “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” Let’s hope projects like this help to keep those young imaginations flying high.

Chris Taylor, head of Flying Colours, loved Maddie’s image and very kindly offered to sponsor the making of the flag.